Effects of a micrometeorite stream on the accuracy of astrometric measurements by scanning space-borne instruments

The effect of micrometeorite impacts upon the surface of a spacecraft on the accuracy of astrometric measurements made by scanning with instruments onboard the spacecraft is considered. This effect is shown to be marginal for HIPPARCOS measurements. However, disregarding this kind of effect for all the currently projected spacecraft may result in the declared measurement accuracy being unachievable. Spacecraft maintaining constant spatial orientation during measurements are essentially not subject to the errors caused by collisions with micrometeorites.     

Near-IR imaging of Asteroid 4 Vesta

The Keck Observatory's adaptive optics (AO) system has been used to observe Asteroid 4 Vesta during its 2003 closest approach to Earth. Broadband K^′- and L^′-band images, centered at 2.1 and 3.6 μm, respectively, are presented here. The sharpness of the images was improved by applying a deconvolution algorithm, MISTRAL, to the images. The K^′- and L^′-band images at spatial resolutions of 53 km (^0.055″) and 88 km (^0.085″), respectively, display albedo features on the surface of the asteroid that can also be seen in the HST images (673 nm) presented by Thomas et al. [1997. Impact excavation on Asteroid 4 Vesta: Hubble Space Telescope results. Science 277, 1492-1495] and Binzel et al. [1997. Geologic mapping of Vesta from 1994 Hubble Space Telescope images. Icarus 128, 95-103] at the same latitudes and longitudes. While we cannot determine the morphology of these features, we can speculate that some of the albedo features may be impact craters filled with dark material. Spectra, centered at 1.65 and 2.1 μm, were also obtained. Spectra were corrected for the solar flux and are similar to those published by Gaffey [1997. Surface lithologic heterogeneity of Asteroid 4 Vesta. Icarus 127, 130-157], along the same wavelength range.     

Binary asteroid population: 1. Angular momentum content

We compiled a list of estimated parameters of binary systems among asteroids from near-Earth to trojan orbits. In this paper, we describe the construction of the list, and we present results of our study of angular momentum content in binary asteroids. The most abundant binary population is that of close binary systems among near-Earth, Mars-crossing, and main belt asteroids that have a primary diameter of about 10 km or smaller. They have a total angular momentum very close to, but not generally exceeding, the critical limit for a single body in a gravity regime. This suggests that they formed from parent bodies spinning at the critical rate (at the gravity spin limit for asteroids in the size range) by some sort of fission or mass shedding. The Yarkovsky-O'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack (YORP) effect is a candidate to be the dominant source of spin-up to instability. Gravitational interactions during close approaches to the terrestrial planets cannot be a primary mechanism of formation of the binaries, but it may affect properties of the NEA part of the binary population.     

Radar and optical observations and physical modeling of near-Earth Asteroid 10115 (1992 SK)

We estimate Asteroid 1992 SK's physical properties from delay-Doppler images and Doppler-only echo spectra obtained during March 22-27, 1999, at Goldstone and from optical lightcurves obtained during February-March 1999 at Ond?ejov Observatory. The images span only about 15° of sky motion and are not strong, but they place up to twenty 40 m by 160 m pixels on the asteroid and have complete rotational phase coverage. Our analysis establishes that the radar observations are confined to subradar latitudes between −20° and −40°. The echo spectra and optical lightcurves span ∼80° of sky motion, which provides important geometric leverage on the pole direction. The lightcurves are essential for accurate estimation of the asteroid's shape and spin state. We estimate the asteroid's period to be 7.3182±0.0003 h and its pole direction to be at ecliptic longitude, latitude=(99°±5°,−3°±5°). The asteroid is about 1.4 km in maximum extent and mildly asymmetric, with an elongation of about 1.5 and relatively subdued topography. The OC radar albedo is 0.11±0.02 and the SC/OC ratio is 0.34±0.05. The current orbital solution permits accurate identification of planetary close approaches during 826-2690. We use our model to predict salient characteristics of radar images and optical lightcurves obtainable during the asteroid's March 2006 approach.     

The resonant structure of Jupiter's Trojan asteroids – I. Long-term stability and diffusion

We study the global dynamics of the jovian Trojan asteroids by means of the frequency map analysis. We find and classify the main resonant structures that serve as skeleton of the phase space near the Lagrangian points. These resonances organize and control the long-term dynamics of the Trojans. Besides the secondary and secular resonances, that have already been found in other asteroid sets in mean motion resonance (e.g. main belt, Kuiper belt), we identify a new type of resonance that involves secular frequencies and the frequency of the great inequality, but not the libration frequency. Moreover, this new family of resonances plays an important role in the slow transport mechanism that drives Trojans from the inner stable region to eventual ejections. Finally, we relate this global view of the dynamics with the observed Trojans, identify the asteroids that are close to these resonances and study their long-term behaviour.